Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Maine Beer Weez

I poured a 500ml bottle into a tulip glass. It was bottled on 7/1/14 and cost $6 ($0.36 per ounce).

Appearance: Opaque ink black body. Sediment chunks can be seen once the
bottom of the bottle is poured. Forms a very large, dark tan, foamy head
which laces and retains extremely well.

Smell: Pungent nose of coffee, roasted barley and dank, resiny hops.

Taste: Maine Beer Company produces a strong IPA called “Another One”
which uses the exact same hops and schedule as Weez. The obvious
difference being this is a black IPA or black ale or whatever you want
to call it. Weez is as equally good of a beer, in my opinion, even
though the taste is so much different. This brewery is known for making
hop-centric beers, yet there’s genuine maltiness to be found here. A
strong presence of coffee, roasted barley and burnt toast lays a strong
foundation for the forthcoming hops. What’s odd is that in this beer,
these hops create for a darker, more earthy character rather than the
lighter, cleaner, brighter fruitiness of “Another One.” Dank resiny
bitterness complements the dark malt and coffee flavor perfectly (the
herbal spice rack notes are also present, but are subtle this time). Not
quite as sticky as some beers of the genre, though the hops are still
strong and quite bitter. Overall, it’s a complex, robust, and delicious
palette.

Drinkability: The 7.2% ABV on the label might lead one to believe that
this is going to be a strong, hefty beer to approach with caution.
However, after one swig it’s clear that Maine Beer Company’s “Weez” is
remarkably light on its toe. The mouthfeel is calm and soft with a
velvety texture and finish to match. There is residual bitterness on the
tongue, but it’s quite pleasant and never cloying or drying. No alcohol
presence whatsoever. A versatile brew that works as a standalone
beverage, with a savory meal, or as a liquid dessert.

63.3 - 3.5B-ABOVE AVERAGEThe lowest I can rate a beer and still honestly give it a thumbs up. The attributes are enough to overshadow the flaws. Nothing I'd jump for joy about, but a drinkable, satisfactory beer to be sure.

53.0 - 3.2C+AVERAGE/NEUTRALNot quite a good beer, not quite a bad beer. I don't have a strong opinion either way about it. There may be something to like here, but there's also something holding it back.

42.8 - 2.9CBELOW AVERAGEThe best of the worst. A beer with noticeable flaws and perhaps some minor attributes. Tolerable for a serving, but no reason to seek it out. A genuine thumbs down, but not something I despise.

32.6 - 2.7C-TOLERABLEWhile not the worst beer, there's probably nothing about it that I like. Plenty of off-putting features. I can tolerate a single serving, but would recommend avoiding it.